Explosion Damage

Claim Type

Explosion Damage

To get an understanding of what an explosion is, we need to define the
causes of the types of covered explosions under your policy.

An explosion is a rapid increase in
volume and
release of
energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high
temperaturesand the release of gases. An
explosion creates a shock
wave. If the shock wave is a
supersonic
detonation, then the source of the blast is called a " high
explosive". Subsonic shock waves are created by low explosives through the slower burning process known as
deflagration.

Causes:

Natural

Explosions can occur in nature. Most natural explosions arise from
volcanic
processes of various sorts. Explosive volcanic eruptions occur when
magma rising
from below has much dissolved gas in it; the reduction of
pressure
as the magma rises causes the gas to bubble out of solution, resulting in a
rapid increase in volume. Explosions also occur as a result of
impact events and in phenomena such as
hydrothermal explosions (also due to volcanic processes).
Explosions frequently occur during
Bushfires in
Eucalyptus forests where the volatile oils in the tree tops suddenly
combust.

Animal
bodies can also be explosive, as some animals hold a large amount of
flammable material such as animal fat. This, in rare cases, results in naturally
exploding animals.

Chemical

Explosive material

The most common artificial
explosives are
chemical explosives, usually involving a rapid and violent
oxidation reaction that produces large amounts of hot gas.
Gunpowder was the first explosive to be discovered and put to use. Other notable early
developments in chemical explosive technology were
Frederick Augustus Abel's development of
nitrocellulose in
1865 and
Alfred Nobel's invention of
dynamite
.
Chemical explosions (both intentional and accidental) are often initiated by
an
electric spark or
flame.
Accidental explosions, which are covered losses, may occur in
fuel
tanks and steam vessels.

Mechanical and Vapor

Strictly a physical process for example: the
bursting of a sealed or partially-sealed container under internal pressure
is often referred to as a 'mechanical explosion'. Examples include an
overheated boiler or steam vessel, a simple tin can of beans tossed into a fire.

Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions are one type of mechanical
explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid is
ruptured, causing a rapid increase in volume as the liquid evaporates. Note
that the contents of the container may cause a subsequent chemical
explosion, the effects of which can be dramatically more serious, such as a
propane tank in the midst of a fire. In such a case, to the effects of the
mechanical explosion when the tank fails are added the effects from the
explosion resulting from the released (initially liquid and then almost
instantaneously gaseous) propane in the presence of an ignition source. For
this reason, emergency workers often differentiate between the two events.

Explosions, any kind of sudden and accidental explosion is covered under the policy. Explosions cause so much damage to so many different types of structures, the claims process is a very time consuming with investigations and scope analysis mired down in extended delays and deficiencies if you have no one on your
side to safeguard your interests.

Call PublicAdjusters.com for a consultation to explore all your
options in dealing with your explosion damage claim. 1-800-303-2591